Car was sometimes difficult to start, other times it would stall/hesitate when in motion on city street. Discovered to be caused by aged/worn fuel pump causing overcurrent draw that fails to blow fuse causing meltdown in wiring harness connector where pigtail from pump connects to the chassis side of the wiring harness. Heat/spark potential is created in close proximity to fuel tank that has many reported cases of fuel filler neck rusting off and leaking fuel. A quick google search reveals that a number of people, with photos, have experienced this failure. Photo provided is from internet but the result is the same.
The worst 1997 Subaru Legacy problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine32
- Brakes27
- Electrical17
- Transmission17
- Airbags10
- Acceleration9
- Fuel system9
- Suspension9
- Steering7
- Locks6
- Seat belts5
- Body4
- Lights4
- Visibility3
- Wheels3
- Tires1
Specific symptoms reported on the 1997 Subaru Legacy
ABS 6Check engine light 6Fuel leak 6Overheating 6Sudden acceleration 6Engine failure 5Loss of power 5
Recalls 5
Suspension: front: springs: coil springs
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with front coil springs originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new york, new jersey, new hampshire, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, virginia, west virginia, and wisconsin, and in the district of columbia. The front coil springs were produced with poor paint quality which, after continued exposure to corrosive salt, can result in breakage of the spring.
- Risk
- Depending on the location of the fracture, a broken spring could move past the spring seat and contact a front tire. Some tires have deflated due to contact with a broken spring.
- Remedy
- Dealers will notifiy customers to bring their vehicle to an authorize dealership to have a spring guard installed on both front struts to prevent tire puncture and replace any broken springs free of charge. Owner notification began september 18, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact subaru at 1‑800‑782‑2783.
Recall number 01V216000 · Recall details
Suspension: front: springs: leaf spring assembly: hanger,bracket
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger station wagon, sedan and sport utility vehicles. Due to improper welding, fractures can occur on the support bracket of the front transverse link.
- Risk
- Such fractures can result in partial or complete separation of the bracket causing a failure of the lower suspension mounting, leading to a loss of vehicle control.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace if necessary the front suspension support brackets.
Recall number 98V091000 · Recall details
Vehicle speed control
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The throttle shaft ball bearing on the sensor side of the throttle body assembly was not installed in certain throttle bodies.
- Risk
- Operation of a vehicle with a missing throttle shaft bearing can eventuallly lead to an incomplete return of the throttle valve resulting in a high idling condition.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the throttle body and replace the throttle assembly if the bearing is missing.
Recall number 98V035000 · Recall details
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. Due to poor welds, ignition keys can stick, shift levers/linkages can break and shift levers can move.
- Risk
- This condition can cause unexpected movement of the vehicle increasing the risk of a crash or property damage.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the automatic transmission shift lever assemblies (except the handle grip).
Recall number 98V042000 · Recall details
Exterior lighting: hazard flashing warning lights: switch
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Insufficient clearance within the hazard warning light switch housing can cause a binding between the actuating button and the housing.
- Risk
- The switch could stick in an intermediate position when deactivating, resulting in the turn signals becoming inoperable.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a modified hazard warning switch.
Recall number 97V210000 · Recall details
See all 5 recalls for the 1997 Subaru Legacy
Defect investigations
Electrical system
Odi has received 5,820 complaints concerning a variety of electrical system failures that result in the vehicle stalling.our complaint analysis indicates that the majority of these compaints are caused by alternator failure.in some instances, the vehicle is completely dead and will not restart.based on our investigation and the manufacturer's respomse, odi is closing this investigation because the manufacturer has agreed to perform the owner nortification program cited above, including quarterly notifications to odi.this program allows owners to get their alternator replaced for free.further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that no safety-related defect exists.odi will continue to monitor this matter closely, and the agency reserves the right to take further action on these models if warranted by the circumstances.
PE99067
Technical service bulletins for the 1997 Subaru Legacy 38
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This bulletin announces the recommended cleaning procedures to followed when encountering vehicles with...
- This bulletin contains illustrations of exchange components and their manufacturer as well as a...
- This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for...
- This bulletin has been developed to outline the steps for gathering basic essential information during...
- This bulletin contains additional information for recommended materials listed in the Service Manuals for...
- This bulletin is to advise of SOA’s revised catalytic converter recycling program shipping procedure.
- To help reduce confusion and increase technician efficiency, Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) has developed...
- Special Service Tools Cross Reference List.
- All Models (Vehicle Cleaning- COVID-19Best Practices)
- This Service Information bulletin announces instruction for application of additional lubrication between...
1997 Subaru Legacy fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.2L 4‑cyl | FWD | 21 | 29 | 24 |
| 2.2L 4‑cyl | 4WD | 20-21 | 27-28 | 23 |
| 2.5L 4‑cyl | 4WD | 18 | 24-25 | 21 |
What 1997 Subaru Legacy owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
1997 subaru legacy outback. Came out to my parked vehicle with the right front tire flat due to part of the suspension spring being snapped and sticking into inside of the tire. Spring was intact when I parked it. Frightening to think if that had happened while driving on the highway of which I was the day before this happened.
1997 subaru legacy gt 2.5l engine, approx. 92k miles, engine started overheating. Car was taken to two different repair facilities and diagnosed as blown head gasket after pressure test, block test, no signs of leaking. Car had been serviced faithfully by original owner at subaru dealerships since purchase. I found out this is a common problem from repair facilities with this model and engine but when questioned subaru dealership they said it couldn't have happened as head gasket and cooling system are not related (?) and problem was a cracked block or cylinder. Estimated cost to replace head gasket $2450-. Estimated cost to replace engine $5700-. I had also had a problem where the fuel filler tube that connects to the gas tank from where you pur the gasoline in from the pump had rusted away and leaked fuel onto the ground. I had that replaced at approx. Cost of $400-. Again subaru denied there was a problem when I called the dealership. These problems occurred with in six months of each other.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 subaru legacy. The contact stated that the vehicle became stuck in park. The failure was recurring. The vehicle had been taken to an authorized dealer, who lubricated the automatic transmission shifter but to no avail. The failure recurred each time the vehicle was driven. The vehicle was taken back for further diagnosis and it was advised that the part required for the repair was no longer available. The authorized dealer advised the contact to purchase the shift lock module and an authorized dealer would repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no remedy. The approximate failure mileage was 75000. Updated 06/10/14 ma the consumer was informed, the part was no longer available. Updated 07/23/14
When the gas tank is filled above half a tank, fuel leaks onto the ground in large amounts near the rear of the vehicle. This is extremely dangerous since a spark or cigarette would cause an explosion.
I installed mevotech strut mounts (mp903987 & mp903986) on our 1997 subaru legacy postal when installing new rear shock absorber/struts. The right side failed on the first day after around 60 miles. I replaced it with the original factory part that had lasted 420,000 miles. The left side failed the next day after being in service for approximately 100 miles total. I returned the other original part to service. The failures allowed the strut to push through the mount and hit on the thin retaining plate. It allowed the rear suspension to become extremely loud and loose. I reported this to the manufacturer and received no response. I reported it to the seller, rockauto, and their response was that I should do more research on part quality. I believe there is a difference between poor quality and dangerous defect. I have the faulty mevotech parts in their original boxes.
My fuel filler rusted off @ the fuel tank causing it to leak on the ground when the tank is nearly full.I have read other complaints about this problem.it's a big job for a diy.you need to drop the rear differential , drive shaft , muffler , etc..is this something subaru covers cost wise?
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 subaru legacy. The contact attempted to start the ignition and the engine failed to start. The battery was jump started; however the failure recurred while driving. The battery was recharged for a second time. The contact replaced the battery terminal due to severe rust and corrosion. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000. Updated 02/28/12 *bf the consumer stated battery corrosion destroyed the negative terminal. Updated 03/08/12
Gasoline filler tube on subaru legacy models (1994 & 1997) rust out and cause very serious danger from possible fire/explosion due to leaking fuel. This appears to be a very common problem for subaru owners and costly ($350+) to repair. This part was replaced on both a 1994 and a 1997 subaru legacy and the repair shop indicated that this is a common problem that they have dealt with quite often. I feel the problem is very dangerous and should be addressed by the manufacturer.
1997 subaru legacy 2.5 l engine. 118,000 miles. Chronic overheating. Many dollars spent only to find that these cars are notorious for blowing head gaskets. Sure enough, that's the trouble.
Compare the 1997 Subaru Legacy
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Other model years
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Questions about the 1997 Subaru Legacy
Is the 1997 Subaru Legacy reliable?
Owners have filed 139 complaints about the 1997 Subaru Legacy, 1.8 times a typical Legacy model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Subaru Legacy?
Engine and cooling, with 32 complaints, typically around 116,000 miles. Next is brakes (27).
How many recalls does the 1997 Subaru Legacy have?
5 recalls, covering suspension, vehicle speed control and power train.
What year does the Subaru Legacy have bad engine?
The Subaru Legacy model years with the most engine complaints are 2010 (35 complaints), 2005 (33 complaints) and 1997 (32 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1997 Subaru Legacy get?
Official estimates for the 1997 Subaru Legacy range from 21 to 24 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.2L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 21 city and 29 highway.
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